However, Germany captain Max Meyer enjoyed a special celebration of his own as he taunted the raucous 78,000 crowd at the Maracana by kissing the number seven on his shirt when he swept home Jeremy Toljan’s cross just before the hour mark.

The first eight penalties in the shootout were all successful before Brazil goalkeeper Weverton stopped Nils Petersen’s effort to set the stage for Neymar.

And he didn’t disappoint as, with the weight of a nation on his shoulders, he rifled the ball into the top corner.

“I told Neymar that God had given him a second chance. God loves Neymar like he loves all this team,” said Weverton.

In stark contrast to the empty seats on show across the Games, even for some of Bolt’s marquee races, there wasn’t a seat to be had at the Maracana — where Germany won the World Cup against Lionel Messi’s Argentina two years ago.

However, it was for the 7-1 mauling in Belo Horizonte five days previously that Brazil were seeking revenge.

None of the players that took to the field that day started on Saturday.

Neymar missed the darkest day in Brazil’s football history due to two broken bones in his back suffered during a bruising quarter-final win over Colombia.

Yet, the good fortune that escaped Brazil on home soil two years ago was certainly with them in the first-half as Germany were desperately unlucky to go in behind at the break.

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Arlo White’s incessant blathering during the match, and especially during the shootout, is complete proof what a waste of space he is every weekend during the Premier League season.
Someone really needs to force him to sit and watch – and LISTEN – to his own brain leakage.

I recorded the Gold Medal match, and he spoke – non-stop – for the first 2 minutes of the match, without EVER referencing the action on the pitch.

In the shootout, he even yakked the entire time Neymar was preparing for his winning kick, as well as through the run up and kick itself.

EFFING SHAMEFUL ! ! !

I’m sure you Arlo lovers loved it, but he wrecked the drama.

He was a decent commentator who read all his press clippings the past few years, and has determined we tune in to listen to him rather than watch the match.